Detroit Tigers catcher Alex Avila is being more aggressive with at-bats

LAKELAND, Fla. -- Detroit Tigers catcher Alex Avila has a quick bat again this spring, and he’s also jumping on pitches earlier in the count. The result was a very good first week in Grapefruit League games, with Avila batting .364 with two RBIs and still getting three walks in six games.

“Avila is in the process of learning to be more aggressive,” Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. “He’s getting swings off earlier against hittable pitches.”

Avila said the “pretty good eye” he possesses can be a “double-edged sword.” Some times, particularly with runners on base, the best pitch a hitter sees comes early in the count before a pitcher can get ahead and assume control.

”It is especially true with guys on base and facing a tough guy,” Avila said.

He trained daily in Fort Lauderdale with Tigers sluggers Miguel Cabrera and Magglio Ordonez, who split time between there and Venezuela.

Leyland also is impressed with Avila’s progress behind the plate.

“He’s almost there as far as earning the respect of a staff,” Leyland said. “He can handle both of these (areas) mentally now, and is ready to go to the next level.”

Both Justin Verlander and Rick Porcello have commented on how comfortable they are working with Avila.

“Alex has developed a good rapport with everybody individually,” Porcello said. “I have the utmost confidence in Alex. I’m throwing everything with conviction and we’ve been on the same page. He’s doing a great job -- as is Victor (Martinez). I love them both back there.”

Avila said the positive confirmation he gets from pitchers during mound conversations makes a difference.

“It’s definitely a good feeling,” he said. “When there is so much at stake you have to trust the guy. It’s tough because it’s your livelihood.

“You have to learn what to say to them. All guys are different.”

When Avila and pitcher Armando Galarraga had to be separated in the dugout between innings in a game last year, Avila said it was because Galarraga didn’t want to adjust the game plan.

“He liked it when I was tough with him,” Avila said. “But a lot of it is gut feel and trusting what you see. I wanted to change and he didn’t…That’s what the disagreement had to do with.”

Veteran catcher Gerald Laird, now with the St. Louis Cardinals, stepped in to separate them and make points with Galarraga. He was a significant mentor for Avila in handling pitchers, defense and throwing out runners.

“He’s one of the best at throwing out runners and worked with me on my footwork,” Avila said. “I always had a good arm, but not the quickest feet.”

The result was a 31.7 percent success rate in throwing out would-be base stealers for Avila, who ranked second in the American League in that statistic.

He probably could have used a year at Triple-A Toledo in 2010, but was needed by the Tigers and had too much thrown at him too soon. Leyland admits as much.

“It was a tough year for me offensively,” Avila said. “It was definitely a learning year.”

He batted .279 with five homers and 14 RBIs in 61 at-bats during a late-season call-up in 2009, but hit just .228 last year with seven homers and 31 RBIs in 294 at-bats.

“It was a lot to worry about last year,” Avila said. “There was a lot on my mind. And when you play, you have to play with a clear mind.”

Avila batted .302 in September, when he was the full-time catcher and began to rediscover his comfort zone as a player.

“I feel so much more comfortable now,” Avila said. “I know I’m going to be on the team and can prepare for the season.”